The host-parasite relationship between the Saudi Arabian Schistosoma mansoni and its intermediate and definitive hosts. 1. S. mansoni and its local snail host Biomphalaria arabica.

The infectivity of miracidia of the Saudi Arabian isolate of S. mansoni in Bi. arabica was found to be influenced by such factors as miracidial dose, water temperature and salinity. The pre-patent period of S. mansoni in Bi. arabica was 30 to 33 days. Miracidial dose had no effect on the mortality of snails during the pre-patent period. The infection rate increased as the miracidial dose was increased. However, cercarial production was highest in snails exposed to 1 miracidium each and decreased as the miracidial dose was increased. Water temperature during exposure had an influence on the mortality, infection rate and cercarial production in Bi. arabica exposed to S. mansoni miracidia. The infection rate was highest in snails exposed at 28 degrees and 34 degrees C. No infection of Bi. arabica occurred at the temperature of 10 degrees C. The number of cercariae per snail per day was highest in snails exposed to miracidia at 34 degrees C. It was demonstrated that salinity had an influence on the infection of Bi. arabica with miracidia of S. mansoni. The infection rate in snails decreased as the salinity increased up to 4,500 mg/l, above which no infection occurred. The daily pattern of cercarial emergence was rhythmic, whereby 94.7% of the total daily production was released within 6 h from infected Bi. arabica, with a peak between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.